Symptoms and treatment of Tongue cancer

Description

Tongue cancer is a type of cancer that begins as a growth of the cells in the tongue. The tongue starts in the throat and spreads in the mouth. It consists of the muscles and nerves that help with the movement and function, such as the flavor. The tongue aids in speech, eating and swallowing.

Tongue cancer that starts in the mouth is different from the language of cancer that begins in the throat.

In the mouth, tongue cancer is called cancer of the oral language. Cancer of the tongue in the mouth can cause symptoms right away. A doctor, dentist, or other member of your health care team may notice in the first place because this part of the language is easily seen and examined.
In the throat, tongue cancer is called oropharyngeal cancer of the tongue. It can grow for a while before it causes symptoms. When symptoms do occur, they tend to be the symptom that has many possible causes. If you have a sore throat or ear pain, your health care team can first check for causes other than the cancer. The cancer on the back of the tongue is difficult to see and examine. For these reasons, the cancer is often not diagnosed immediately. It is often found after the cancer cells have spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.

Several types of cancer can affect the tongue. Tongue cancer most often begins in the thin, flat cells that cover the surface of the tongue, called squamous cells. Tongue cancer that starts in these cells is called squamous cell carcinoma.

Your health care team considers the type of cancer cells when making a plan of treatment. The team also takes into account the location and the size of the cancer. Tongue cancer treatment usually involves surgery and radiation therapy. Other options may be chemotherapy, and targeted therapy.

Symptoms

Tongue cancer may not cause symptoms at first. Sometimes it is found by a doctor or dentist to examine your mouth for signs of cancer as part of a checkup.

When a tongue cancer that occurs in the mouth, the first sign is usually a pain in the tongue that does not heal. Other symptoms can include pain or bleeding in the mouth, and a lump or thickening in the language.

When a tongue cancer that occurs in the throat, the first sign may be swollen lymph nodes in the neck. Other symptoms may include coughing up blood, weight loss and ear pain. It can also be a lump in the back of the mouth, throat, or neck.

Another tongue cancer symptoms may include:

A red or white patch on the tongue, or lining of the mouth.
A sore throat that does not go away.
A feeling that something is caught in your throat.
Numbness of the mouth or tongue.
Difficulty or pain when chewing, swallowing, or moving the jaw or tongue.
Swelling of the jaw.
A change in the voice.

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with a doctor, dentist, or other health care professional if you have any symptoms that worry you.

Causes

Tongue cancer begins when healthy cells in the tongue develop changes in their DNA. A cell's DNA contains the instructions that tell the cell what to do. The changes that tell the cells to grow out of control, and to continue living when healthy cells would die as part of their natural life cycle. This causes a large amount of cells. The cells may form a growth called a tumor. At the time, cells can break away and spread to other areas of the body.

It's not always clear what causes changes that lead to cancer of the tongue. For some, the language of the cancers that occur in the throat, the human papilloma virus, also known as HPV , may be involved. HPV is a common virus that is spread through sexual contact. Cancer of the tongue in the throat that is caused by the HPV tends to respond better to treatment compared with cancer of the tongue in the throat that are not related to HPV .

Risk factors

The most common factors that can increase the risk of tongue cancer include:

The consumption of tobacco. Tobacco is the single greatest risk factor for cancer of the tongue. All forms of tobacco, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco and tobacco, increases the risk.
The consumption of alcohol. Frequent and excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of tongue cancer. The use of alcohol and tobacco increases the risk even more.
Be exposed toHPV. In recent years, a cancer of the tongue, in the throat has become more common in people who are exposed to specific types of HPV .

Other factors may include:

The fact of being a man. Men are more likely to develop a cancer of the tongue than women. This may be of higher rates of tobacco and alcohol consumption in men.
The increase of the age. People over the age of 45 years have an increased risk of tongue cancer. This is typically of years of consumption of tobacco and alcohol.
Problems for the maintenance of oral hygiene. The lack of dental care can contribute to cancer of the tongue. The risk is even greater in those who use alcohol and tobacco.
Having a weak immune system. This can occur if you take medicines to control the immune system, such as after an organ transplant. It can also be caused by disease, such as infection with HIV .

Prevention

You can reduce your risk of cancer of the tongue by:

Do not use tobacco. If you don't smoke, don't start. If you currently use tobacco of any kind, talk with your health care team about strategies to help you quit smoking.
Limit the consumption of alcohol. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. For healthy adults, that means up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men.
Consider the possibility of theHPVvaccine. To receive a vaccine to prevent HPV infection may reduce the risk of HPV-related cancers such as cancer of the tongue. Ask your health care team if a vaccine against HPV is right for you.
Have regular health and dental exams. During your appointments, your dentist, physician, or other member of your health care team can check your mouth for signs of cancer and pre-cancerous changes.

Diagnosis

Tongue cancer is usually found for the first time by a doctor, dentist, or other member of your health care team during a routine checkup. A series of tests and procedures that are used to help diagnose a cancer of the tongue. Which ones are the best for you depends on your medical history and symptoms.

The evidence for the tongue cancer may include:

The examination of the mouth and throat. In a physical examination, a member of your health care team is seen in the mouth, throat, and neck. That person looking bumps on the tongue and the presence of swollen lymph nodes in the neck.
The use of a small camera to see the mouth and the throat. Called an endoscopy, this test uses a thin tube with a light and a camera. The tube is inserted in the nose and throat. Look for signs of cancer of the tongue in the mouth and throat. It can also be used to see if the cancer has spread to look at other parts of the throat, such as the voice box.
Removing a sample of tissue for analysis. It is called a biopsy, this test involves taking a sample of cells from the tongue. There are different types of biopsy procedures. An example can be collected by cutting a piece of the suspicious tissue or of the entire area. Another type of biopsy uses a thin needle that is inserted directly into the suspicious area to collect a sample of cells. The samples are sent to a lab for analysis. In the laboratory, the tests can show whether the cells are cancerous. Other tests give more information on the cancer cells, as if they show signs of HPV .
Imaging tests.Imaging tests, capturing images of the body. The pictures can show the size and location of the cancer. The test image is used for the tongue cancer may include X-rays andCT,MRIand positron emission tomography, also calledPET, explorations. Sometimes an x-ray involves a barium swallow. In this type of X-ray, a liquid called barium to verify if there are signs of throat cancer. Barium coats the throat and makes it easier to see on x-rays. An ultrasound can be used to detect the cancer in the lymph nodes. Ultrasound creates images using sound waves. It can show if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.

Imaging tests. Imaging tests, capturing images of the body. The pictures can show the size and location of the cancer. The test image is used for the tongue cancer may include X-rays and computed tomography , magnetic resonance imaging, and positron emission tomography, also called PET scans.

Sometimes an x-ray involves a barium swallow. In this type of X-ray, a liquid called barium to verify if there are signs of throat cancer. Barium coats the throat and makes it easier to see on x-rays. An ultrasound can be used to detect the cancer in the lymph nodes. Ultrasound creates images using sound waves. It can show if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes in the neck.

Treatment

The treatment for tongue cancer usually includes surgery followed by radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or both. Your health care team takes into account many factors when creating a treatment plan. These can include cancer of the location and how fast it is growing. The team can also see if the cancer has spread to other parts of your body and the results of the tests on the cancer cells. Your health care team also takes into account your age and your overall health.

Tongue cancer surgery

Surgery is the most common treatment for cancer of the tongue. Operations is used to treat cancer of the tongue include:

Surgery to remove part or all of the tongue.This surgery is called a glossectomy. The surgeon removes the cancer and some of the healthy cells around it, called a margin. The elimination of the margin helps to ensure that all cancer cells are removed. How much of the language, the surgeon removes depends on the size of the cancer. The surgery can eliminate some of the language or the totality of the language. Sometimes the surgery causes problems with speech and swallowing. This depends on how much of the tongue is removed. The physical therapy and rehabilitation can help to improve these problems. Surgeons use cutting tools to remove the cancer cells. Tools that are put in the mouth to access the cancer. If the tongue cancer is in the throat, the surgeons can put tiny cameras and special tools through the mouth and into the throat to reach the cancer. This is called a surgery transoral. In some medical centers, the tools are placed in the ends of the robotic arms, the surgeon controls it from a computer. This is called robotic surgery transoral. Robotic surgery helps the surgeon to operate in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and throat, especially the back of the parts of the tongue. Many types of cancer in the front of the tongue can be removed without robotic assistance.
The surgery to remove the lymph nodes in the neck.When a tongue cancer spreads, it often goes to the lymph nodes in the neck of the first. If there are signs that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, you may need surgery to remove some of the lymph nodes, called a neck dissection. Even if there are no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes, you may have some of them removed as a precautionary measure. Removal of the lymph nodes removes the cancer and helps your health care team to decide if you need other treatments. To reach the lymph nodes, the surgeon makes a cut in the neck and removes the lymph nodes through the opening. The lymph nodes are tested for cancer. If cancer is found in lymph nodes, the other treatment may be necessary to remove the cancer cells that are left. The options may include radiation or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy. Sometimes it is possible to delete only a couple of lymph nodes for testing. This is called a sentinel lymph node biopsy. It is the removal of the lymph nodes to which cancer is more likely to spread. The lymph nodes are tested for cancer. If there is no cancer detected, it is likely that the cancer has not spread. The sentinel lymph node biopsy is not an option for all people with cancer of the tongue. It is only used in certain situations.
The reconstructive surgery. Reconstructive surgery may be needed when the parts of the face, jaw, or neck are removed during surgery. Healthy bone or tissue may be taken from other parts of the body and is used to fill the gaps left by the cancer. This tissue may replace part of the lips, tongue, palate and jaw, face, throat or skin. If the reconstruction is used to replace the parts of the tongue, which is usually done at the same time as the surgery to remove the cancer.

Surgery to remove part or all of the tongue. This surgery is called a glossectomy. The surgeon removes the cancer and some of the healthy cells around it, called a margin. The elimination of the margin helps to ensure that all cancer cells are removed. How much of the language, the surgeon removes depends on the size of the cancer. The surgery can eliminate some of the language or the totality of the language. Sometimes the surgery causes problems with speech and swallowing. This depends on how much of the tongue is removed. The physical therapy and rehabilitation can help to improve these problems.

Surgeons use cutting tools to remove the cancer cells. Tools that are put in the mouth to access the cancer. If the tongue cancer is in the throat, the surgeons can put tiny cameras and special tools through the mouth and into the throat to reach the cancer. This is called a surgery transoral. In some medical centers, the tools are placed in the ends of the robotic arms, the surgeon controls it from a computer. This is called robotic surgery transoral. Robotic surgery helps the surgeon to operate in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth and throat, especially the back of the parts of the tongue. Many types of cancer in the front of the tongue can be removed without robotic assistance.

The surgery to remove the lymph nodes in the neck. When a tongue cancer spreads, it often goes to the lymph nodes in the neck of the first. If there are signs that the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, you may need surgery to remove some of the lymph nodes, called a neck dissection. Even if there are no signs of cancer in the lymph nodes, you may have some of them removed as a precautionary measure. Removal of the lymph nodes removes the cancer and helps your health care team to decide if you need other treatments.

To reach the lymph nodes, the surgeon makes a cut in the neck and removes the lymph nodes through the opening. The lymph nodes are tested for cancer. If cancer is found in lymph nodes, the other treatment may be necessary to remove the cancer cells that are left. The options may include radiation or radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy.

Sometimes it is possible to delete only a couple of lymph nodes for testing. This is called a sentinel lymph node biopsy. It is the removal of the lymph nodes to which cancer is more likely to spread. The lymph nodes are tested for cancer. If there is no cancer detected, it is likely that the cancer has not spread. The sentinel lymph node biopsy is not an option for all people with cancer of the tongue. It is only used in certain situations.

Another tongue cancer treatments

Other treatments for tongue cancer include:

The radiation therapy.Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, a machine directs the rays of energy to specific points on the body to kill the cancer cells there. Radiation therapy is sometimes the main treatment for cancer of the tongue. It can also be used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used at the same time to deal with other parties, such as the lymph nodes, if the cancer has spread. Radiation therapy for cancer of the tongue can make it difficult for you to swallow. Eating may become difficult or painful. Your health care team will work to keep you comfortable and help you get the nutrition during the treatment.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy uses strong drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be used before surgery to control the growth of cells. Can also be used after surgery to kill any remaining cells. Sometimes chemotherapy is performed at the same time as radiation therapy, because it causes the radiation work better.
The targeted therapy. Targeted therapy uses drugs that attack specific chemicals in cancer cells. By blocking these chemicals, specific treatments can cause cancer cells to die. Targeted therapy is used to treat cancer of the tongue which occurs or spreads.
Immunotherapy. Immunotherapy is treatment with medicines that help your body's immune system destroys the cancer cells. Your immune system fights diseases by attacking the germs and other cells that should not be in your body. Cancer cells survive by hiding from the immune system. Immunotherapy helps the cells of the immune system find and kill cancer cells. Immunotherapy can be used when the cancer is advanced and other treatments have not helped.
Clinical trials. Clinical trials are studies of new treatments. These studies provide an opportunity to test the latest treatments. The risk of side effects may not be known. Ask a member of your health care team if you might be able to be in a clinical trial.

The radiation therapy. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells. The energy can come from X-rays, protons or other sources. During radiation therapy, a machine directs the rays of energy to specific points on the body to kill the cancer cells there.

Radiation therapy is sometimes the main treatment for cancer of the tongue. It can also be used after surgery to destroy any remaining cancer cells. Sometimes radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used at the same time to deal with other parties, such as the lymph nodes, if the cancer has spread.

Radiation therapy for cancer of the tongue can make it difficult for you to swallow. Eating may become difficult or painful. Your health care team will work to keep you comfortable and help you get the nutrition during the treatment.

Advanced treatment of tongue cancer, can affect your ability to speak and eat. Working with an expert team of rehabilitation can help you deal with the changes that are a result of the language, the treatment of cancer.

Coping and support

Facing a serious illness can make you feel worried. With time, you will find ways to cope with your feelings, but you can find solace in these strategies:

Ask questions about tongue cancer.Write down questions you have about your cancer. Ask these questions at your next appointment. Also ask your health care team to reliable sources where you can get more information. To know more about cancer and their treatment options can help you more comfortable to making decisions about your care.
Stay connected with friends and familia.Su cancer diagnosis can be stressful for friends and family also. Try to keep your involvement in your life. Your friends and family will probably ask if there is anything I can do to help you. Think about the tasks that you would like to help, such as taking care of your house if you have to stay in the hospital, or simply listen to when you want to talk. You can find comfort in the support of a group that cares for your family and friends.
Find someone to talk to. Find someone to talk to, who has experience in helping people facing a life-threatening illness. Ask your health care team to suggest a counselor or a medical social worker can talk. For support groups, contact the American Cancer Society or ask your health care team about local or online groups.

Ask questions about tongue cancer. Write down questions you have about your cancer. Ask these questions at your next appointment. Also ask your health care team to reliable sources where you can get more information.

To know more about cancer and their treatment options can help you more comfortable to making decisions about your care.

Stay connected with friends and family. Your cancer diagnosis can be stressful for friends and family also. Try to keep your involvement in your life.

Your friends and family will probably ask if there is anything I can do to help you. Think about the tasks that you would like to help, such as taking care of your house if you have to stay in the hospital, or simply listen to when you want to talk.

You can find comfort in the support of a group that cares for your family and friends.

Preparing for your appointment

Start by making an appointment with your regular doctor, dentist or other health care professional if you have symptoms that concern you.

If your health care team is concerned that you may have cancer of the tongue, you may be referred to:

A doctor who treats problems of the face, jaw, and mouth, called an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.
A doctor who treats problems of the ears, nose, and throat, called a specialist in otolaryngology.
A doctor who uses medicine to treat cancer, called a medical oncologist.
A doctor who uses radiation to treat cancer is called a radiation oncologist.

Because appointments can be brief, and because there is a lot of information to discuss, it is a good idea to be prepared. Here's some information to help you prepare.

What you can do

Be aware of any pre-appointment restrictions. At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there is anything that you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet.
Write down any symptoms you're experiencing, including any that do not seem to be related to the reason for which you scheduled the appointment.
Write down key personal information, including any major stresses or recent life changes.
Make a list of all the medicines, as well as any vitamins or supplements you are taking.
Consider the possibility of a family member or friend. Sometimes it can be difficult to remember all information that is obtained during an appointment. Someone who accompanies you may remember something that you missed or forgot.
Write questions to ask.

The time of the appointment may be limited, so preparing a list of questions to help you to stay focused. A list of questions from most important to least important in case time runs out. For cancer of the tongue, some basic questions include:

What is my stage of tongue cancer?
Can you explain the pathology report to me? I have a copy of my pathology report?
More evidence is needed?
What are the treatment options for my tongue cancer?
What are the benefits and risks of each option?
There is a treatment option which we recommend over the others?
What would you recommend to a loved one in my same situation?
Should I get a second opinion from a specialist? What will that cost, and will my insurance cover it?
Are there brochures or other printed material that I can take with me? What sites do you recommend?

In addition to the questions you have prepared, do not hesitate to ask questions during your appointment.

What to expect from your doctor

Be prepared to answer some basic questions about your symptoms and your health, such as:

When did you first begin experiencing symptoms?
The symptoms been continuous or occasional?
How severe are the symptoms?
What, if anything, seems to improve your symptoms?
What, if anything, appears to worsen your symptoms?